Bees are critical in preserving the health of threatened ecosystems like the Northern Great Plains, playing a key role in keeping grasslands healthy and aiding in climate stability.
Bees contribute immensely to pollinating flowers, which is essential for the health of many ecosystems and for agricultural productivity.
Beyond pollination, bees are well-known for producing honey, a natural food product enjoyed by humans worldwide.
Bees help in the seed production for thousands of species of flowering plants, which grow in diverse environments including prairies and forests.
Scientists estimate bees have been around for 130 million years, significantly impacting the evolution and proliferation of flowering plants.
Bees contribute to soil health in various ways, including carbon sequestration through the deep roots of grassland plants.
Over 90% of bee species are solitary, and many nest within the soil, helping to maintain its health, particularly in arid and temperate grassland regions.
Unlike trees that store carbon primarily above ground, grassland plants, aided by bees, store most of their carbon below ground in deep roots.
Without bees, the reproduction rate of flowering plants would decrease, potentially leading to the loss of diverse ecosystems.
Bees play a significant but often underappreciated role in combating climate change through their various ecological contributions.